In defense of VCU
Dear Editor,
This letter is in response to John Hewitt’s Mar. 28 letter entitled “Why I came to VCU.” Although I agree that Richmond – like other major cities – does have its violent sections, I reject the implication that VCU itself is unsafe. The majority of Richmond crime is located in several distinct neighborhoods, and with the election of our new city mayor, former Governor Doug Wilder, I firmly believe that this crime will be reduced. Evidence of this is already obvious in the renovation and growth of Church Hill.
In addition, I think we can all agree that in the past three years Broad Street (particularly the section between the Monroe Park Campus and the MCV Campus) has changed drastically for the better. According to the VCU safety report for 2001, 2002 and 2003, the majority of crimes committed on campus are person-to-property crimes (thefts), and the 32.3 murders that Mr. Hewitt implied have been committed on campus during those three years is actually a much lower number – zero.
VCU has its own police force who are available 24/7. Besides the VCU escort service, the frequent crime prevention seminars, Victim/Witness Program, Campus on Watch and Personal Safety Awareness programs, I would suggest that if Mr. Hewitt feels that there is something that can be further done for safety, he should call our police chief, Colonel Willie B. Fuller.
Secondly, I patently reject the point that VCU is a young school and has the need to shamelessly promote itself in required “college success program” courses. From the Office of Institutional Research and Evaluation, “The University takes its founding date of 1838 from the year the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) was created. VCU’s Academic Campus began in 1917 as the Richmond School of Social Work and Public Health.” Although the two only merged in recent times to formally form what we call today VCU, in actuality our roots are 130 years older than Mr. Hewitt suggests.
Many very intelligent students need the college succcess program to give them the study skills they need when they enter college because they didn’t have to study in high school when the material came in the form of a more structured environment. Sure, these orientation classes can be a bummer to sit through, but I’ve got news for you – they aren’t unique to VCU. The reason VCU has them? VCU wants you to succeed here! I would challenge Mr. Hewitt to find a college that didn’t have these types of college success programs.
Thirdly – and I speak from personal experience here – I came here by choice. This was my first choice for a school, and looking back on the almost 3 years I’ve been here, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I know there are lots of other students who came here by choice and also don’t regret it. Are you forgetting the VCU Adcenter, which was recently ranked the nation’s top advertising program?
What about the Massey Cancer Center? The nation’s largest French film festival held this past weekend right here at VCU? The international student office? The forensic science program? What about the Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament? What about our research programs and medical school? We (the students) are the cultural and academic leaders of the next generation.
Finally, I would like to make a suggestion: Attitude is everything. If you are unhappy about something here, do something! People make institutions. Run for office in the SGA or the Graduate Student Association. Talk to your advisor – talk to the administration, who in my personal experience have their doors always open. Don’t drink the Kool-Aid just yet; it’s not all bad! It’s easy to be a critic. Challenge yourself to find something positive.
Sincerely,
Steve Paugh
Secretary, Graduate Student Association